Owara Kaze no Bon Festival おわら風の盆

Held annually over the first three days of September in Yatsuo, a rustic district in southern Toyama City, the Owara Kaze no Bon Festival is a lively event, known for its elegant traditional dances.

The festival is held in the center of Yatsuo and can be accessed by bus from Toyama Station and Etchu Yatsuo Station.

Free shuttle buses run between Toyama Station and the festival area. Alternatively, you can take a train from Toyama Station to Etchu Yatsuo Station, and then a 12-minute bus to the town center.

For much of their history, the people of Japan have faced many natural disasters, such as typhoons and floods. The Owara Kaze no Bon Festival originated over 300 years ago to appease the winds, and to pray for respite from calamities that would destroy their crops at harvest time.

Tucked away in the mountains in the southwest of Toyama City, the quiet town of Yatsuo transforms into celebration central for three days in early September. From mid-afternoon to well past nightfall, scores of colorfully dressed dancers from 11 towns join in a procession through streets lined with historic wooden buildings.

With straw hats, synchronized moves, and identical kimono, Owara's women have made this festival famous. Stage performances and a multitude of paper lanterns add to the festive atmosphere which turns magical at night.